What am I supposed to do. Advised by my mechanic not to use Ethanol. Which means I will have to upgrade to Premium at extra cost. The way things are going I won't be able to afford to go anywhere. Will either have to give up my unit to travel or just go camp out in my car park at home.
When I bought Lucy in '09 I started using E10 right away. Then someone told me about a survey that said it doesn't work out any cheaper in the long run. So over the past few months, I've switched to 95 and I'm finding it actually takes me further. And it's better for your motor, so the blokes in my family tell me. I'm keeping a log at the moment so I'll be interested to see how good it works out to.
I cannot understand the governments reason for removing unleaded logic cannot be applied but I suppose we are talking about politicians, very glad that my main fuel usage is LPG but that does not help others who have cars that cannot use Ethanol.
Its very easy to say use premium but the added cost is an absolute rort and a lot of us cant afford to constantly run on it.
I may be considered sceptical if I said it was to support their mates who manufacture Ethanol but I dont see any other reason especially when we are told to also expect a price rise due to the shortage of Ethanol.
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I believe the change is result of the past NSW state govt and a sweet heart deal with E10 producers.
What has this decision achieved? It has forced people with older cars to pay higher prices for premium unleaded which by co incidence have incrementally increased in price by 14%. If you feel ripped off then you have every right to feel that way.
Check availability in Victoria as the phase out is different.
It wont worry me to mutch as both our vehicles use LPG. But I will be using premium petrol in my generators & outboards. The main problem with ethanol is moisture & stalling problems at idle with motors using carbys.
When I bought Lucy in '09 I started using E10 right away. Then someone told me about a survey that said it doesn't work out any cheaper in the long run. So over the past few months, I've switched to 95 and I'm finding it actually takes me further. And it's better for your motor, so the blokes in my family tell me. I'm keeping a log at the moment so I'll be interested to see how good it works out to.
Hi Beth,
E10 isnt cheaper as it makes up 10% of a litre of fuel, in essence we are paying for 9/10th of a litre of petrol with less energy. Many drivers attest to the benefits of premium but it has been gradually lifted in price over the past 12 months. News articles state that the rise is over 14%.
When I bought Lucy in '09 I started using E10 right away. Then someone told me about a survey that said it doesn't work out any cheaper in the long run. So over the past few months, I've switched to 95 and I'm finding it actually takes me further. And it's better for your motor, so the blokes in my family tell me. I'm keeping a log at the moment so I'll be interested to see how good it works out to.
Hi Beth,
E10 isnt cheaper as it makes up 10% of a litre of fuel, in essence we are paying for 9/10th of a litre of petrol with less energy. Many drivers attest to the benefits of premium but it has been gradually lifted in price over the past 12 months. News articles state that the rise is over 14%.
I txt my older son for affirmation of his opinion knowing he uses Premium. He said it might cost more but it does go further and his 4x4 runs better.
Considering my rent is going up by another 20.00 a fortnight next month and Housing are starting to put young riffraff in this over 55s complex, I may be looking for somewhere else to live very soon. May be a good idea to put my stuff in storage for a couple of years while I travel around and eventually decide the best place to live.
They stopped selling Super when I had an old Falcon, and even though I used the Premium unleaded that was supposed to be ok, the poor old car used to ping going up hills. So glad the Prado uses Diesel! I know the lead in petrol caused lead poisoning, but why are we going without unleaded?
I txt my older son for affirmation of his opinion knowing he uses Premium. He said it might cost more but it does go further and his 4x4 runs better.
Considering my rent is going up by another 20.00 a fortnight next month and Housing are starting to put young riffraff in this over 55s complex, I may be looking for somewhere else to live very soon. May be a good idea to put my stuff in storage for a couple of years while I travel around and eventually decide the best place to live.
HW, it is worth giving a lot of thought to the storage idea. Would mean you could travel without the worry of what is happening at your unit, rent costs, and having to pay the basic utilities costs, even when you are away. Perhaps find out storage costs - and don't limit your research to just Echuca. Bendigo may have more options. Then do the sums.
You could then meander at will. North in the winter/dry season; south when it gets hotter and wetter.
You may be able to get rent assistance while on the road.Get mail redirected to the most reliable kid you have, for them to forward on to you.
Did you ever see that old TV documentary Grey Nomads? Mary gave up her unit in Ballarat to travel in her little old van - and she ended up settling in Broome!
The way these units are going Gerty I would be looking for private rental.
I'm just keeping an eye on the situation for now, see what happens. A lot of the eldery are complaining and a little scared by the goings on.
The little block where I am is one of the best, great bunch with well kept gardens but two are very elderly and I fear their passing as they are lovely people and gosh knows who would come in their place.
A couple of young guys, in their 30s have been put in here recently and they roam from their end, through our block to the other end looking for drugs. They have very large dogs off leads, not allowed. The other night 8 young men were wandering around at 1am. Not sure why, wasn't going out to find out. Its never been this bad before, theyve changed all the rules, or done away with them all together. I said to my neighbours, a good reason to go away more often. If I'm not here I don't know whats happening. If it gets worse will pack up and leave.
If I ever have to leave my rented place, I think I'd have to live in the caravan. Couldn't see me getting another place as cheap as this one. It's private rental, and my lovely landlord has kept the rent the same ever since I moved in about 8 years ago. He knows I'm on the DSP. He reckons the only way he'll be leaving is in a box.
Like you Marj, it's always a worry in the backn of my mind. Although, I'm very lucky that it's very quiet here.
As a famous trouserless PM once said-Life wasn,t meant to easy. I wonder if had his pants on at the time.He also gets a gold travel card for life by being PM.Marj, you,ll just have to spend more time on the road.........New diesels are getting small, more powerful, and more economical. I like the small Mazda, ford diesels, and will buy one, when I can afford it., By the way, the water is just about over the old bridge at Calliope.Bill
As a famous trouserless PM once said-Life wasn,t meant to easy. I wonder if had his pants on at the time.He also gets a gold travel card for life by being PM.Marj, you,ll just have to spend more time on the road.........New diesels are getting small, more powerful, and more economical. I like the small Mazda, ford diesels, and will buy one, when I can afford it., By the way, the water is just about over the old bridge at Calliope.Bill
Not much chance of me ever getting another vehicle. I bought Lucy brand new with the hope she'd see me out.
As a famous trouserless PM once said-Life wasn,t meant to easy. I wonder if had his pants on at the time.He also gets a gold travel card for life by being PM.Marj, you,ll just have to spend more time on the road.........New diesels are getting small, more powerful, and more economical. I like the small Mazda, ford diesels, and will buy one, when I can afford it., By the way, the water is just about over the old bridge at Calliope.Bill
Not much chance of me ever getting another vehicle. I bought Lucy brand new with the hope she'd see me out.
Me neither Beth. I'm all I've got now. After owning my own homes from when I was 21 as a solo parent when I bought my first home, I've only ever been in my own homes until the last 8-9 years where some bad choices and trusting people I shouldn't have saw me out in the rental market.
I always have this fear of being homeless but at the same time I want to get rid of everything and just travel. Must be the Gemini in me. I want to do 2 things at the same time.
as much as i dream of a campervan, or slide on camper with ute etc i cant see myself with another car for along time, and ive had my mazda 2 for 8 years now just hope i can get a few more years out of her ..
Yeah ! but at an inflated price, octane reads higher and so does the $$$$. Still no postive answer as to why the unleaded is being dropped for the E10..not good for the older engine..bugga!
as much as i dream of a campervan, or slide on camper with ute etc i cant see myself with another car for along time, and ive had my mazda 2 for 8 years now just hope i can get a few more years out of her ..
My Japanese sil has just bought a new Mazda 2 Milo. She had a little Starlet, til she smashed into someone's fence and wrote it off. She was okay though, thankfully. She's a shocking driver, doesn't allow for the unexpected, like a lot of people. But she can't be told.
I believe there may be some value if we confront our local politicians and get them to explain why they have done this and who is really befitting from this change it's certainly not us grey nomads and considering the number of us and the voting power we have it may be time for us to speak up about this and other crazy decisions that government have made before its too late.
__________________
Life was meant to be enjoyed Australia was meant to be explored
Happily doing both to the Max.
Life is like a camera, focus on what's important & you will capture it every Time
Correct me if I am wrong but I read recently that the NSW govt had done a back flip on the un-leaded fuel because of public reaction, and will still be available for a few more years.
If this is so, then I wonder whether the servos that have already got rid of un-leaded will make it available again..
Our vehicle we usually run on E10, with the vehicle unloaded the mileage doesnt alter between E10, Un-leaded or Premium, and very little difference in performance. (being GN-ites we dont drive like our kids )
However, with the vehicle loaded or towing the camper it is a vastly different story. The E10, lousy mileage & power, Un-leaded & Premium gives us around the same mileage but noticeable difference in power with premium.
When we are traveling our first choice is Premuim, then un-leaded, and last is a tose up, whether to walk or get e10.
Daryl
Edits: ummmm, bad spelling!
-- Edited by DandS on Thursday 9th of February 2012 07:19:34 PM
-- Edited by DandS on Thursday 9th of February 2012 07:21:18 PM
-- Edited by DandS on Thursday 9th of February 2012 07:22:23 PM
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Alcohol is not the answer. It only makes you forget the question.
I've been using Premium in my '76 kombi for a few year now and must admit she runs better on it and goes a bit further. If I have to put cheaper unleaded in I always use an additive.
Happywanderer......have you looked at Salvation Army units, we have some near me and they are really nice and you have to be over 55. They don't push religion at you, everyone to their own.
My oldest son said I should use premium petrol in Myrtle for those reasons Jean and Alex. She would run better and go further, which would make up for paying that bit more. Haven't decided to do that yet. As far as the units go, I'm going to be away all winter so won't know whats happening here while I'm away. At this stage if they don 't annoy me personally I can put up with it.